Revolutionary Government of the Philippines (1898–1899)

The Revolutionary Government of the Philippines (Spanish: Gobierno Revolucionario de Filipinas) was a revolutionary government established in the Spanish East Indies on June 23, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, by Emilio Aguinaldo, its initial and only president.[1] The government succeeded a dictatorial government that had been established by Aguinaldo on June 18[2] and was dissolved and replaced by this government upon its establishment.[3][4] This government endured until January 23, 1899, when the proclamation of the Malolos Constitution established an insurgent Philippine Republic government that replaced it.[5][6]

Revolutionary Government of the Philippines
Gobierno Revolucionario de Filipinas (Spanish)
Pamahalaang Rebolusyonaryo ng Pilipinas (Tagalog)
1898–1899
Anthem: Marcha Nacional Filipina
(English: "Philippine National March")
Territory claimed by the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines in Asia
Territory claimed by the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines in Asia
StatusUnrecognized state
CapitalBacoor
(June 1898 – August 1898)
Malolos
(August 1898 – January 1899)
Common languagesSpanish
Religion
Roman Catholicism, Islam
GovernmentRevolutionary republic
President 
 1898–1899
Emilio Aguinaldo
President of the Cabinet 
 1899
Apolinario Mabini
LegislatureNone (rule by decree)
(June 23 – September 15, 1898)
Malolos Congress
(from 1898)
Historical eraPhilippine Revolution
 Established
June 23, 1898
August 13, 1898
December 10, 1898
January 23, 1899
CurrencyPhilippine peso
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Spanish East Indies
Dictatorial Government
Military Government of the Philippine Islands
First Philippine Republic

Four governmental departments were initially created, each having several bureaus: foreign relations, marine, and commerce; war and public works; police, justice, instruction, and hygiene; finance, agriculture, and industry.[7] A revolutionary congress was established with power "[t]o watch over the general interest of the Philippine people, and carrying out of the revolutionary laws; to discuss and vote upon said laws; to discuss and approve, prior to their ratification, treaties and loans; to examine and approve the accounts presented annually by the secretary of finance, as well as extraordinary and other taxes which may hereafter be imposed."[8]

On August 14, 1898, two days after the Battle of Manila of the Spanish–American War and about two months after Aguinaldo's proclamation of this revolutionary government, the United States established a military government in the Philippines, with General Merritt acting as military governor.[9]

Government

Cabinet

Aguinaldo appointed his first cabinet on June 15, consisting of Baldomero Aguinaldo as secretary of war and public works, Leanardo Ibarra as secretary of the interior and Mariano Trías as secretary of finance; the secretaryship of foreign relations, marine, and commerce was provisionally left in the charge of the presidency. On September 23, the cabinet was reorganized to six departments.[10]

On January 2, 1899, when it became certain that Cayetano Arellano would not accept the role of secretary of foreign relations, the role fell to Apolinario Mabini. Mabini had to that time been Aguinaldo's principal advisor and he was also named the president of the cabinet.[11]

Cabinet of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines[10]
Department Secretary Term
President of the Cabinet Apolinario Mabini January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899
Secretary of War and Public Works Baldomero Aguinaldo June 15, 1898 – May 7, 1899
Secretary of the Interior Leonardo Ibarra June 15, 1898 – January 2, 1899
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Cayetano Arellano September 23, 1898 – January 2, 1899
Apolinario Mabini January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899
Secretary of Treasury/Finance Mariano Trías June 15, 1898 – May 7, 1899
Secretary of Justice Gregorio Araneta September 23, 1898 – May 7, 1899
Secretary of Welfare[lower-alpha 1] Fernando Canon September 23, 1898 – January 2, 1899
Gracio Gonzaga January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899
  1. including Public Instruction, Public Works, Communications, Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce

References

Further reading

  • Duka, Cecilio D. (2008). Struggle for Freedom' 2008 Ed. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 978-971-23-5045-0.
  • Elliott, Charles Burke (1917). The Philippines: To the End of the Commission Government, a Study in Tropical Democracy (PDF).
  • Guevara, Sulpico ed. 1972. The Laws of the First Philippine Republic (The Laws of Malalos). National Historical Institute, Manila., (published online 2005, University of Michigan Library)
  • Halstead, Murat (1898). The Story of the Philippines and Our New Possessions, Including the Ladrones, Hawaii, Cuba and Porto Rico.
  • Kalaw, Maximo Manguiat (1927). The Development of Philippine Politics. Oriental commercial.

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